Practice putting device including balanced, inverted trapping-rimming cup

ABSTRACT

A shallow cup is placed on a supporting surface which also supports artificial turf around the upstanding wall of the cup. An upstanding rod is supported by the cup and includes a fixed torus which supports an inverted trapping-rimming cup from which a bell-shaped pedestal depends. The lower end of the pedestal lies in the path-of-travel of a golf ball entering the shallow cup so that the ball will displace the lower end of the pedestal and rock the inverted cup into trapping engagement behind the golf ball, providing it is not travelling too fast or off course. If the ball is travelling on-course, but too fast, it will bounce out of the shallow cup. If the ball is travelling at a correct speed, but off-course like a rimming shot, it will still be trapped. If a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;rimming shot&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; is travelling too fast, the device will cause the ball to change direction and move away from the shallow cup before the inverted cup can trap the ball.

United States Patent Wuertemburg et al.

[4 1 Sept. 30, 1975 1 1 PRACTICE PUTTING DEVICE INCLUDING BALANCED, INVERTED TRAPPlNG-RIMMING CUP [75] Inventors: Charles W. Wuertemburg, Tcaneck;

Darryl R. Dworkin, Middlescx, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Standard Plastic Products, Inc.,

South Plainfield, NJ.

[22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1974 [21] App]. No.: 518,535

[52] US. Cl. 273/177 A; 273/184 A [51] Int. Cl. A63B 69/36 [58] Field of Search 273/177, 127 R, 178, 179,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 954,299 4/1910 Johnson 273/177 A 1,136,708 4/1915 Osborn l 273/177 A 1,297,055 3/1919 Austin l 273/177 B 1,939,142 12/1933 Seymour .1 273/177 A 2,899,207 8/1959 Billinghurst 273/177 B 3,074,722 l/1963 Davenport 273/177 A 3,184,240 5/1965 Gleeson 273/177 A 3,313,544 4/1967 Davis 273/177 A 3,458,202 7/1969 McNamara 273/177 A 3,512,783 5/1970 Anderson 273/177 R 3,858,888 1/1975 Young 273/177 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 184,409 8/1922 United Kingdom 273/177 A Primary E.\'aminerGeorge J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or FirmMax E. Shirk; Stephen L. King 5 7 ABSTRACT A shallow cup is placed on a supporting surface which also supports artificial turf around the upstanding wall of the cup. An upstanding rod is supported by the cup and includes a fixed torus which supports an inverted trapping-rimming cup from which a bell-shaped pedestal depends. The lower end of the pedestal lies in the path-of-travel of a golf ball entering the shallow cup so that the ball will displace the lower end of the pedestal and rock the inverted cup into trapping engagement behind the golf ball, providing it is not travelling too fast or off course. If the ball is travelling on-course, but too fast, it will bounce out of the shallow cup. If the ball is travelling at a correct speed, but off-course like a rimming shot, it will still be trapped. If a rim ming shot" is travelling too fast, the device will cause the ball to change direction and move away from the shallow cup before the inverted cup can trap the ball.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ill I 1111 ll PRACTICE PUTTING DEVICE INCLUDING BALANCED, INVERTED TRAPPING-RIMMING CUP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to the field of practice putting devices and more particularly to such a device which includes a balanced, inverted trapping-rimming cup.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The prior art known to applicant is listed by way of illustration, but not of limitation, in separate communications to the United States Patent Office. This prior art includes US. Pat. No. 1,136,708 which discloses a practice putting device including an inverted cup slidably mounted on a tube having a yoke affixed to its lower end. A rod is slidably mounted in the tube and extends into the yoke where it is supported by the upper end of a pendulum shaft swingably mounted in the lower end of the yoke. The lower end of the pendulum shaft carries a disc engageable by a golf ball. A bracket is affixed to the rod inside the yoke and extends into engagement with the inverted cup so that the cup will follow the up-and-down movement of the rod. When a golf ball strikes the disc, the pendulum shaft is swung out' of engagement with the rod so that the cup will drop and trap the ball. 7

The present invention exemplifies improvements over putting devices of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 1,136,708.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful practice putting device including balanced, inverted trapping-rimming cup means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a practice putting device exemplifying improvements over the device disclosed in US. Pat. No. 1,136,708.

According to the present invention, a practice putting device includes a base having a closed bottom wall and an upstanding, encompassing side wall. A rod has its lower end affixed' to the base and is supported thereby in a substantiallyvertical position. The rod carries a fixed torus near its lower end for supporting an inverted trapping-rimming cup from which a hollow, bellshaped pedestal depends. The inverted cup and the hollow pedestal encompass the rod and are supported on the torus in such a position that a golf ball passing over the side wall on the base will engage the pedestal and rock the inverted cup so that the edge of the inverted cup will tip downwardly into engagement with the golf ball trapping it in the base.

In its broadest sense, the present invention may be thought of as a practice putting device comprising trapping-rimming cup means, rod means balancing the cup means in an inverted position above a surface over which a golf ball is adapted to roll, and means affixed to the cup means in the path-of-travel of a golf ball rolling over the surface for rocking the cup means into trapping engagement with the ball when the ball engages the affixed means.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a practice putting device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 showing a golf ball approaching the device; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the golf ball in a trapped position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring again to the drawings, a practice putting device constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a shallow cup or base 12 having a closed bottom wall 14 and an upstanding side wall 16. Base 12 is supported on a suitable surface 18 over which a golf ball 20 is adapted to roll. The surface for golf ball 20 may be enhanced by placing a strip of artificial turf 22 on surface 18 around base 12. The top surface 24 of artificial turf 22 is preferably slightly above the upper surface 26 of side wall 16.

The device 10 also includes a rod 28 supported in a substantially vertical position on the center line of base 12 by a hollow boss 30 having an annular flange 32 affixed to bottom wall 14 by a suitable weldment 34. Rod 28 includes a lower end 36, which is seated in boss 30, and an upper end 38, which may be suitably decorated with a flag 40, if desired. A torus 42 is affixed to rod 28 near end 36. Rod 28 and torus 42 may be molded as a single piece from suitable polymeric material, if desired. Likewise, base 12 and boss 30 may be integrally formed from a suitable polymeric material.

The device 10 also includes a trapping-rimming cup 44 having an encompassing side wall 46 supported on torus 42 in an inverted position by a frusto-conical skirt 48 which may be made integrally with side wall 46 from a suitable polymeric material and which includes a lower end 50 provided with an apertured disc 52 slidably mounted on rod 28 above torus 42. The trappingrimming device 44 includes a hollow, bell-shaped pedestal 54 having an upper end 56 provided with an apertured disc 58 which is affixed to disc 52 and which balances cup 44 on torus 42. Pedestal 54 includes a flared lower end 60 lying in the path-of-travel of golf ball 20 for engagement thereby to rock cup 44 on torus 42 so that the open end 62 of side wall 46 will tip downwardly behind ball 20 and trap it in base 12.

It is apparent from FIG. 3 that the apertures in discs 52 and 58 are sufficiently smaller than torus 42 that cup 44 will not slide downwardly on rod 28 below torus 42 when ball 20 impacts pedestal 54.

Four fins, like the ones shown at 64, 66, may be provided on pedestal 54 at intervals. Additionally, four elastomeric pads, like the ones shown at 68, 70, 72, may be affixed to the under side 74 of side wall 46 on 90 centers spaced between the fins. The fins insure that rim shots having too much velocity to drop into a cup under actual playing conditions on a regular golf course will activate the device and be deflected. The foam pads work in conjunction with the fins for deflecting rim shots and also aid in trapping other shots by damping out some of the vibration between ball 20 and side wall 46.

While a number of different parameters for the device and the ball will manifest themselves to those skilled in the art, parts having the following dimensions are satisfactory:

A. Diameter of ball 20 1.68 inches B. Inside diameter of base 12 3.95 inches C. Height of side wall 26 0.28 inches D. Height of pedestal end 60 above bottom wall 14 of base 12 0.40 inches E. Diameter of end 60 of pedestal 54 2.32 inches F. Height of torus 42 above bottom wall 14 1.37 inches G. Height of open end 62 above bottom wall 14 2.08 inches H. Diameter of open end 62 of side wall 46 4.06 inches In use, golf ball 20 may be stroked along artificial turf 22 toward base 12. if ball 20 has the correct velocity and follows a proper course for sinking a golf ball in a regular golf cup, ball 20 will engage end 60 of pedestal 54 in such a manner that cup 44 will rock on torus 42 and open end 62 of side wall 46 will drop down into trapping engagement with ball 20.

If, on the other hand, ball 20 travels too fast, it will be deflected by pedestal 54 before side wall 46 can trap ball 20. It should be noted that well-known rimming shots of proper velocity will be trapped by side wall 46 because of its unique balance on torus 42. Rimming shots having too great a velocity, on the other hand, will engage pedestal 54 and one of the fins and then move out from under side wall 46 before it can drop into trapping engagement with ball 20.

While the particular practice putting device herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently-preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims, which form a part of this disclosure.

Whenever the term means is employed in these claims, this term is to be interpreted as defining the corresponding structure illustrated and described in this specification or the equivalent of the same.

What is claimed is:

1. A practice putting device, comprising:

a base having an upstanding, encompassing side wall;

an upstanding polc supported by said base, said pole having an upper, free end and a lower end, said lower end being secured to said base;

a fixed torus encompassing said shaft intermediate said ends;

a trapping-rimming cup having an encompassing sidewall and an open end; and

a hollow pedestal depending from said cup and encompassing said pole, and pedestal having an internal, annular shoulder engaging said torus for supporting said cup thereon in a position such that said open end overlies said base, said pedestal also having a portion extending below said annular shoulder for engagement by a golf ball, whereby said golf ball will swing said pedestal so that said open end of said cup will tip downwardly into trapping engagement with said golf ball, said annular shoulder coacting with said torus to prevent said cup from dropping when said golf ball impacts said pedestal.

2. A practice putting device, comprising: a shallow cup having a closed bottom wall for supporting said shallow cup on a surface over which a golf ball is adapted to roll, said cup also having an upstanding side wall;

a rod supported in a substantially vertical position in said shallow cup, said rod having a lower end seated in said shallow cup and an upper, free end;

a torus affixed to said rod intermediate said ends;

a trapping-rimming cup having an encompassing sidewall and an open end;

a frusto-conical skirt depending from said trappingrimming cup, said frusto-conical skirt having a lower end provided with an apertured disc slidably mounted on said rod above said torus for maintaining said trapping-rimming cup on said torus in such a position that said open end overlies said shallow cup,

a bell-shaped pedestal having an upper end and a flared lower end, said upper end of said pedestal being provided with an apertured disc which is affixed to the disc on said frusto-conical skirtabove said torus for supporting said pedestal in a position such that said flared lower end thereof lies in the path-of-travel of said golf ball when it enters said shallow cup, whereby said golf ball will engage said pedestal and rock said open end of said trappingrimming cup into engagement with said golf ball for trapping said golf ball, the apertures in said discs being smaller than said torus whereby said torus prevents said trapping-rimming cup from dropping when said golf ball impacts said pedestal.

3. A practice putting device as stated in claim 2 including fins on said pedestal and elastomeric pads on the underside of said trapping-rimming cup. 

1. A practice putting device, comprising: a base having an upstanding, encompassing side wall; an upstanding pole supported by said base, said pole having an upper, free end and a lower end, said lower end being secured to said base; a fixed torus encompassing said shaft intermediate said ends; a trapping-rimming cup having an encompassing sidewall and an open end; and a hollow pedestal depending from said cup and encompassing said pole, and pedestal having an internal, annular shoulder engaging said torus for supporting said cup thereon in a position such that said open end overlies said base, said pedestal also having a portion extending below said annular shoulder for engagement by a golf ball, whereby said golf ball will swing said pedestal so that said open end of said cup will tip downwardly into trapping engagement with said golf ball, said annular shoulder coacting with said torus to prevent said cup from dropping when said golf ball impacts said pedestal.
 2. A practice putting device, comprising: a shallow cup having a closed bottom wall for supporting said shallow cup on a surface over which a golf ball is adapted to roll, said cup also having an upstanding side wall; a rod suppoRted in a substantially vertical position in said shallow cup, said rod having a lower end seated in said shallow cup and an upper, free end; a torus affixed to said rod intermediate said ends; a trapping-rimming cup having an encompassing sidewall and an open end; a frusto-conical skirt depending from said trapping-rimming cup, said frusto-conical skirt having a lower end provided with an apertured disc slidably mounted on said rod above said torus for maintaining said trapping-rimming cup on said torus in such a position that said open end overlies said shallow cup; a bell-shaped pedestal having an upper end and a flared lower end, said upper end of said pedestal being provided with an apertured disc which is affixed to the disc on said frusto-conical skirt above said torus for supporting said pedestal in a position such that said flared lower end thereof lies in the path-of-travel of said golf ball when it enters said shallow cup, whereby said golf ball will engage said pedestal and rock said open end of said trapping-rimming cup into engagement with said golf ball for trapping said golf ball, the apertures in said discs being smaller than said torus whereby said torus prevents said trapping-rimming cup from dropping when said golf ball impacts said pedestal.
 3. A practice putting device as stated in claim 2 including fins on said pedestal and elastomeric pads on the underside of said trapping-rimming cup. 